Optical pressure sensor

An optical pressure sensor comprising:

• an optical radiation source configured to emit an optical radiation;
• an optical guide optically coupled to the optical radiation source and configured to achieve a total internal reflection condition, the optical guide defining an interface wall to the outside;
• an elastically deformable element configured to be transparent to the optical radiation and having a first face that is facing the interface wall and a second face, the elastically deformable element being further configured such that in the presence of a pressure exerted on the elastically deformable element, a contact area between the elastically deformable element and the interface wall is modified so that the optical guide assumes a condition of total internal frustrated reflection with emission of an output optical radiation towards the first face of the elastically deformable element dependent on the pressure exerted and on the contact area;
• and
• a photoresistor optically coupled to the second face of the elastically deformable element and configured to provide an electrical signal dependent on the output optical radiation;
• wherein the optical radiation source includes at least one LED;
• wherein the optical guide includes a cylindrical guide optically coupled to the at least one LED;
• wherein the first face of the elastically deformable element hemispherical and the second face of the elastically deformable element is flat to define a second flat face, wherein the photoresistor is fixed to the second flat face;
• and
• wherein the output optical radiation is a function of an area of a contact surface between the first face of the elastically deformable element and the interface surface.